The Desert Sun

See public water waste?

Editor’s Note: As California faces a historic drought, The Desert Sun is launching a new column that takes a closer look at how we use — and abuse — water in the Coachella Valley. Each week, we’ll tackle one issue you tell us is important. See below for how to send us your tips.

Being a resort community, the Coachella Valley is full of ornamental water features outside hotels, housing developments and golf courses.

Just drive up and down Highway 111, and odds are you’ll see water gushing into the air or flowing down an elevated structure to create the image of a waterfall.

These types of features typically use water recycled through their systems, but experts say they could hurt California’s water conservation efforts if they’re left unchecked while the state contends with a drought.

“Certainly (they) could be viewed with a negative perception,” said David Ginsburg, a University of California assistant professor in environmental studies.

Some experts say the desert’s weather conditions, including the 80-degree temperatures this past week, are contributing to the damage.

“Any water that’s exposed to any kind of significant heat or low humidity is going to evaporate,” said National Weather Service forecaster Mike Watkins. “Standing water on a hot day in the desert could evaporate inches a day. The less water you expose to the atmosphere, the more you’re helping to conserve water.”

Many Coachella Valley hotels have elaborate features, although most are found in housing developments overseen by homeowners associations, according to the Coachella Valley Water District.

Ginsburg said “it seems like good practice” for people to occasionally turn down their features.

Loss from one water feature may not do much damage, but collectively they add up, and “when we have a drought, every drop counts,” he said.

Dave Koller, however, disagrees evaporation is significantly affecting the local water supply.

As CVWD’s conversation coordinator, he said evaporation levels are less than half an inch per day during warmer months and they are having an “inconsequential” effect on water supplies.

But Koller said most features have automatic refill systems and no one notices when there’s significant leakage.

This typically causes people’s water bills to unknowingly go up and is where water features are most problematic.

“If you do have a water feature, whoever is in charge of maintenance should watch that water fill and make sure it’s working correctly,” Koller said.

This happened in December 2009, when a water fountain overflowed at the Palm Springs International Airport’s entrance on Tahquitz Canyon Drive.

A lot of water was running onto the cement path, but a city spokeswoman at the time said there shouldn’t be a problem since the fountain was shut off a day earlier.

Workers eventually discovered debris had clogged the drainage system and caused water to flow onto the sidewalk. Repairs were immediately made.

Water features are a key component to areas that rely on tourists, and some hot spots have already been hit by the drought.

Multiple media outlets, for example, have recently reported Hearst Castle in Central California isn’t receiving as much water as it usually does from a trio of reservoirs that help fill its fountains and pool.

Only 47,000 gallons of water are flowing from springs on a daily basis, which is down from the normal 285,000 gallons, according to the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

Not to be confused with water features, however, are reservoirs and ponds at golf courses and city parks.

Those are actually used to irrigate grass and, in the case of Palm Desert Civic Center Park, sustain fish and other animals that live there.

City spokesman David Hermann said the water is necessary and there haven’t been discussions about reducing its usage.

Weekly water tip

Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket. Every time you flush tissues, cigarettes or other junk, five to seven gallons of water is wasted.